Calf and colt weaner



l. REICHERT.

CALF AND COLT WEANER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 2, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

"tlt'ft-D STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN REICHERT, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

CALF AND COLT WEANER.

Application tiled October 2, 1919.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lor-iN Rinormn'r, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of' Racine, Racine county, State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful improvements in and Relating to Calf and Colt lVeaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in colt and calf weaners; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what l now believe to be the preferred mechanical. expression or embodiment of my invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spiritl and scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for attachment to the nose of a domestic animal to so shield the animals mouth as to prevent the animal gaininoaccess to a -teat for the purpose Vof ex tracting milk therefrom, and the weauer or shield of my invention is characterized b v an apron or shield plate formed or provided with an upwardly extending guard and stop loop to engage the nose or muzzle and limit upward swing of the apron. with respect to the mouth and also to guard the corners of the mouth against lateral extension of the animals tongue to grasp a teat. and the weaner of my invention without respect to said guard loop, is also characterized by certain peculiarities in the manner of mounting and securing the securing horns or fingers and a spring latch or lock for the movable horn or finger.

lVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel fea-tures in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly described and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying draw-` ings Figure l,is a perspective view of a weaner or shield constructed in accordance with my invention, dotted lines showing oneof the fingers or horns swung to open or 1noperative position.

Fig. 2, is an edge elevation.

Specification of Letters Patent.

recent-cd July 13,1920.

Serial No. 327,855.

F ig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 6, F ig. l. y

In the particular example illustrated, the apron or shield l, is composed of sheet metal, and is struck or pressed from the fiat sheet to provide the upwardly extending forwardlydeflected guard and stop loop 2 integral with the shield or apron. The edge portion la of the apron, below its top edge,

is preferably curved rearwardly so ythat the anima'ls muzzle or nose. A portion of theV metal from this opening can be bent forward in the form of a flange 4; to provide the straight top edge of the apron with a rounded straight rear surface 4 that will not injure the animals tongue or *moutln The guard loop 2 forms an upward arch that is continuous from one upper outer corner of the apron l to the opposite upper corner thereof, and the sheet metal forming this arch is preferably pressed into Usshape in cross section to present a smooth rounded rear surface 2, for engagement with the animals nose and mouth7 andto stiffen and strengthen the structure. rlhis yoke or arch is also deflected or inclined forwardly from Athe apron plate 1 to permit proper location of the suspending and securing horns or fingers with respect to the apron plate and the guard loop or arch.

In the particular example illustrated, these horns or fingers 5, 5a, are secured to the front side of the apron plate and extend vertically therefrom through the flange 4 and into the opening 3 so that the upper ends of the fingers are arranged approximately to the rear of the upper part of the loop or arch. The fingers have approximately .straight vertical shanks while the upper ends of the fingers extend in opposite directions toward each other and are formed with free end roundedV enlargements 5 to enter the opposite nostrils and engage the apronplate and lower end of the shank of said linger. l

The finger 5 is rendered swingable by passing through an elongated slot 4 in flange fl and by the loose rivetor pivot i' passing through the apron plate` and the shank of the finger intermediate `the length Vthereofl or at a point just below and comparatively close to the flange so as to provide the linger shank with the comparatively long depending free end 5b movable in the opposite direction from the upper nose en Agaging end of the linger. The swing of the upper end of finger 5 toward the finger 5a is limited by! the inner endWva-ll of the flange slot da; Suitable means are provided to lock the linger 5 in normal or operative position and whereby the'finger 5 can be released to permit opening swing thereof to inoperative position. The portion 5b of `this finger is utilized as the locking bolt thereof, and a spring lock or latch is provided to coperate therewith For instance, l show a stiff strong plate spring 8 arranged horizontally or transversely on and againstV the frontface of the apron plate and traversing the shanks of the two lingers, and this spring is secured in ar novel and advantageous manner. The lower end of the shank or linger 5 is recessed or rabbetedat its inner side to form a seat and straight shoulder 5-to receive the left hand (Fig. l) end of' spring 8 and fit its upper longitudinal edge. The end of the spring is thus received between the shank and sur- Al'ace of' the plate and thus rigidly clamped and secured by the lrivet 6 .vhichppasses through theV plate,v spring and linger shank.

VThe shoulder 5 ahuts ythe top edge of the spring and,thus'braces and holds the vspring against upward swing or movement. The

spring is so arranged and secured that its tension' is esertedlin holding theflree end of the spring constantly ntoward the surface of' the apron plate.VV y

The right hand (Fig. l) or free end of this spring is ofl-setf`oiitwaifdly to 'forman abrupt or square stop shoulder 8a and an elevated linger piece 8b. The lockiiiig bolt 5" of the swinging :linger is Aarranged Vunder thelinger piece 8b"whiciifprojects laterally or to the right beyondsaid boltl. The inner longituy dinal edge el' theloclring bolt 5*"2': c. the edge of said bolt -'i'acing vthe fixed finger 5n and adjacent to the spring shoulder 8a is recessed or notched to squarely abut the shoulder 8 and to form an upwardly facing shoulder or square edge 5Cv to project under and engage the lower edge of the spring at theV 'engaging the linger with linger' piece 8b.

l/Vhen the spring has been sprung outwardly a sufficient distance, the bolt end 5b of the finger can swing toward the 'lefty under the flatpportionof the spring. rlhe spring is then released and will bear tightly against the linger and hold thesame in opened .position (dottedlines Figs. l and which isa feature of advantage. To then close the linger to and secure the same in normal operative position, it is only necessary to press the upper end of the linger toward the left and when the linger reaches closed or operative position the spring will automatically snap to locking position (full lines Fig. l).

lf so desired, perforations can be provided in the apron plate and lower extremity of the locking bolt 5l so arranged as to register when Vthe linger 5 is in closed operative position. ihe linger can then be locked 1n such position by a Cotter pin l0'. However, this is an emergency provision particularly for use should. the plate spring break or become iiiope 'ative, and'l do not wish toV so limit my invention.

rlhe arrangement of the pivot4 of the swingable fingei to provide a locking bolt in connection with the relative arrangement of the locking spring provides an exceedingly lirm structure wherein the pivot T in large -part sustains stresses and thrusts tending to force the linger to opened position and under f such stresses and forces the locking bolt is rigidly held not only by the tension of the spring but also by the engagement -between the bolt shoulder 5C and the edge of the spring. Peculiar advantages are gained by the 'provision of the stop and guard loop er arch joining and nierging'into the upper corners of the apron plate at points spaced Ylaterally substantial distances from the lingers 5, 5u, guards are thereby provided against the calf orother anima-l gaining hold of teats from the side (Si-'its mouth or by eX- tending his tongue laterally from his mouth. As before stated the guard loop will engage down on the nose and prevent the calf throw-1 to release the swinging the apron plate upwardly a sufficient distance to enable the calf to reach under the plate and grasp the teat. Further this loop or arch braces and stifl'ens the plate of which it forms a part.

I do not wish to limit my invention to the passage of the lingers through openings in the flange fl as the lingers can be otherwise braced, said iiange primarily providing the apron plate with a doubled or rounded upper edge, and hence the flange can be otherwise formed and shaped and in reality forms no part of my present invention.

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit` and scope of my invention and hence l do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.

l. A weaner comprising a stifl'rmetal apron plate having a rigid guard and stop loop extending upwardly and outwardly at an obtuse angle from its upper outer corners and formed integral therewith, and suspending lingers secured to the plate and extending upwardly therefrom through the opening formed by said loop and spaced inwardly from the laterally projecting opposite end portions of the loop, one of said fingers being pivoted to said plate and having locking means, said fingers adapted to be received in the nostrils of an animal so that said apron plate is suspended in front of the aniinals muzzle with the stop loop overlying the muzzle to allow substantially slight for ward tilting of said apron away from the animals mouth.

2. A weaner comprising a sheet metal apron plate having a guard and stop loop integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom and approximately U-shape in cross section, and suspending fingers secured to the plate and extending upwardly into the opening of said loop.

3. A weaner characterized by an apron plate having a forwardly deflected rigid stop loop rigid therewith and rising from its opposite upper outer corners and forming an opening above the plate, said plate and loop composed of a piece of stiff sheet metal, and separate upstanding suspending lingers secured to the plate and rising in said opening, and arranged to be receivedin the nostrils of an animal so that said apron plate is suspended in front of the animals muzzle with the stop loop overlying the muzzle to allow substantially slight forward tilting of said apron away from the animals mouth, the loop projecting laterally substantial distances beyond said fingers to guard the sides or corners of the calfs mouth.

ll. A weaner having suspending fingers, at least one of said fingers being swingable and having locking means, said weaner being characterized by an apron to depend in front of the animals mouth, formed with a rigidapron stiflening forwardly deflected stop loop extending upwardly from the apron and arranged to overlie the animals muzzle Ato allow substantially slight forward tilting of said apron away from the animals mouth, said apron and loop composed of a single still' metal plate.

'5. A weaner having separate suspending fingers relatively-movable to opened and closed positions, and a stiff apron plate composed of a piece of metal having an opening cut therein to receive said fingers and to form an arched upwardly extending guard and stop loop, said fingers adapted to be received in the nostrils of an animal so that said apron plate is suspended in front of the animals muzzle with the stop loop overlying the muzzle to allow substantially slight forward tilting of said apron away from the animals mouth.

6. A calf weaner comprising a dished metal apron plate, suspending fingers rising therefrom and secured to the front side thereof, and an arched dished rigid guard and stop loop integral with and extending upwardly from the upper outer' corners of said plate and deflected forwardlywith respect to and spaced from the fingers.

7. A weaner comprising an apron plate, a fixed suspending linger rising therefrom and at its shank secured to said plate, a coperating suspending finger pivotally joined to the plate, and a plate spring traversing said fingers and having a free end formed for locking said pivoted finger in operative position, said plate spring being clamped between said plate and the fixed finger and secured by the same means that secures the fixed finger.

8. A weaner comprising an apron plate and a pair of suspending fingers secured thereto and rising therefrom, one of said fingers being fixed andthe other pivoted, a plate spring on the apron plate and forming a spring lock for the pivoted finger, said spring being secured by the fixed finger and fitted between the fixed linger and the surface of the plate, said fixed finger having a rabbeted portion and shoulder receiving said spring.

9. A weaner comprising an apron plate and a pair of suspending fingers secured thereto and rising therefrom, one of said fingers being pivoted, said pivoted finger having a free end depending from the axis on which it swings and formed with an upwardly facing shoulder, and a plate spring secured to said apron plate and tending to spring thereto and offset to form an abutment, said free end arranged to engage said abutment and said upwardly facing shoulder to engage the lower edge of the spring to look the finger against opening movement.

10. A Weaner comprising a guard plate, suspending fingers rising therefrom and having shanks extending dovvn along the surface of said plate and secured thereto, ,one of said lingers being svvingable on an axisv located between its opposite ends, one of said ends `forming a locking bolt having a lateral shoulder, and a plate spring pressing against Y said plate and secured thereto With its free to lock the swingable linger in operative po-V sition, said bolt arranged to swing toward the secured end of the spring and between the spring and plate When released andv swung toward opened position.

JOHN' REIOHERT. 

